Minimize pores

This is kind of a lazy post to get the ball rolling again, but there are a lot of things you can do to make your face look clearer and cleaner.

The following (although rather vague) information was taken from: http://www.beautytips.ayurvediccure.com/homemade-recipies/large-pores.htm

• Tomato has toning agents in it. If tomato juice has been applied on the skin regularly with a cotton ball and left for 20 minutes, helps in reducing the size of the pores. It shrinks the pores and makes them appear visibly smaller. You can add tomato juice to calamine powder or sandalwood powder, which are good to tone up the skin, which helps in even reducing the size of the pores. These packs help skin to reduce the sebum production and it helps in decreasing the size of the pores.
• Mashed papaya applied on the skin helps in toning the pores. You can directly apply a mashes papaya on your skin or can put it over a gauge. You need to wash it off with lukewarm water.
• White portion of the egg has skin toning and complexion enhancing ingredients. Whipped egg yolk applied on the skin with a few drops of lemon juice, improves the tone of the skin and reduces the pore size. This pack is extremely good for Middle Ages women.
• Honey is equally good to tone up the pores and reduce the oiliness from the skin. It can be applied in any of the facemask or can be directly applied on the skin with a little lemon juice and sugar to it. You can massage it on face and leave it for few minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Honey added to milk powder too helps if applied on the skin.
• A paste made of salt and butter is helpful in reducing pore size if applied on them.
• Regularly use toner on your skin with a cotton ball. To some extent it helps in temporary reducing the size of the pores.
• Oatmeal and gram flour are good toning substance. You can add a little lemon juice, rose water and curd to them and apply on the skin. Wash this pack off when it dries. It tones the pores and enhances the complexion.
• If you have breakouts on your skin then avoid using lemon juice or any such thing on your skin without a doctor's knowledge. Calamine powder and sandalwood powder are safe to be applied on the pimples or acnes.
• Always remove make up while going to bed. Never sleep with your make up on. Let the skin breath. Heavy make up left on the skin for long hours too increase the size of the pores.
• If you do wax your face, you have more chances to get open pores so always be careful while doing it. Always make sure that you apply a soothing face pack based on calamine or sandalwood on your face after waxing it to close the pores.
• You can rub an ice cube on your skin wrapped in a cotton cloth on your face to temporary reduce the size of the pores. Ice shrinks the size of the pores and it's a good way to make the pores appear smaller if you are going somewhere out as it even decreases the oil production on the skin for sometime.

If you are looking to make a face mask consider the following ingredients:

Oranges, Lemons, Pineapple: brightens and exfoliates the skin and purifies the pores. Provides a dose of pure vitamin C. Pineapple is the strongest- It is a potent source of enzymes that soften the skin and is a natural astringent.

Yogurt: softens, hydrates, and has many enzymes that exfoliate the skin; cleanser; bleach.

Coconut Milk: the lactic acid smoothes out the skin.

Rose Water: gently balances and tones.

Olive oil: known for its great effects on the skin. The best for dry skin.

Avocado: moisturizes and is a good source of vitamin E and natural oils.

Milk: contains lactic acid which nourishes without stripping the skin of essential oils; refines pores; soothes all skin types; cools sunburn.

Aloe gel: an ageless remedy for burns.

Honey: a natural, gently astringent yet extremely moisturizing; refines pores; tightens skin; retards wrinkles; anti-blemish.

Chamomile: tones all types of complexions.

Oatmeal: soothes; heals; relieves itching.

Cucumber: reduces under-eye puffiness; reduces wrinkles.

Egg: conditions; whites best for normal and oily skin; yolks for dry to normal skin

Nuts: used in scrubs to refine pores and combat wrinkles, blackheads and dryness.

Tomato: unclogs pores.

Vinegar: refines pores; cleans; softens; aids blemishes, itchy skin, and sunburn.

Witch Hazel: reduces eye puffiness; deodorant.

Those were taken from: http://umibrahim.tripod.com/id26.html - and there is also a list of some recipes on this site!